In Barcelona, former head of the Generalitat de Catalunya Jordi Pujol was urgently admitted to the Sagrada Familia clinic due to complications from pneumonia. The politician is 95 years old, and his health has noticeably deteriorated in recent months. The hospitalization comes just weeks before a high-profile court case set to begin on November 24. Not only Pujol himself, but all seven of his children will be on the defendants’ bench — they are accused of forming a criminal group and hiding large sums of money abroad.
Doctors recently conducted a thorough examination of Pujol to determine whether he is able to withstand a lengthy trial. The medical report will be submitted to the National Court Panel, which will decide if the former leader of Catalonia can attend the hearings in person or if he will be allowed to participate remotely. The family notes that despite his age and memory problems, Pujol remains mentally sharp and determined to defend himself in court, although his physical condition is far from ideal.
Family turmoil and allegations
The former president’s son, Oriol Pujol, revealed that his father sometimes confuses his children’s names and is showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease. However, the family insists that Pujol is not trying to avoid responsibility and is prepared to stand trial. Prosecutors are seeking a nine-year prison sentence for him, and between eight and twenty-nine years for his children, depending on each one’s involvement. Special focus is on the eldest son, Jordi Pujol Ferrusola, who faces the longest term and multimillion-euro fines.
The indictment includes charges such as money laundering, document forgery, tax evasion, and obstruction of justice. Meanwhile, the state attorney is not pressing charges against Pujol Senior himself but is seeking a 25-year sentence and a hefty fine for his son.
Questions about the future of the case
The trial of the Pujol family has become one of the most highly anticipated cases in modern Catalan history. For ten years, investigators gathered evidence, and now the fate of the former regional leader and his relatives will be decided in court. Whether Pujol will personally attend the hearings remains unclear: much depends on the final medical assessment. Despite his advanced age and poor health, the politician is determined to keep defending his reputation.
